Skill Retention and Skill Utilisation and
Management Practices in Australia
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
The questions in this survey relate to skill retention and utilisation and management practices in your
organisation. For this survey organisation is defined as the workplace area for which you are
responsible for administrating human resource management policies. Please answer the questions as
they relate to all employees (full-time, part-time and casual) in your organisation. Please use your
actual perception and not your desired perception of practices in your organisation when answering
these questions. While some questions may appear to be similar, they are required for a complete
assessment of relevant issues.
The questionnaire consists of five sections: 1) Nature of Organisation 2) Skill Retention and
Utilisation 3) Management Practices and Philosophies, 4) Human Resources Practices and 5)
Business Environment.
Please attempt to answer all questions. Note, questions appear on both sides of the pages of this
questionnaire. The survey adheres to strict respondent anonymity as no unique identifying
organisation information is requested from the survey. The survey takes about 30 minutes to
complete.
Please mail the completed survey in the return envelope by no later than 10 days of receipt. If you
have any questions about the content of the survey or require a clarification of any questions please
contact Professor Andy Smith on (02) 69332521 or at asmith@csu.edu.au
Charles Sturt University’s Ethics in Human Research Committee has approved this study.
I understand that if I have any complaints or concerns about this research I can contact:
Executive Officer
Ethics in Human Research Committee
Academic Secretariat
Charles Sturt University
Private Mail Bag 29
Bathurst NSW 2795
Phone: (02) 6338 4628
Fax:
(02) 6338 4194
The return of the questionnaire is reasonably taken as an indication of voluntary consent to participate.
Section 1: Nature of Organisation
1. Approximately, how many employees does your entire organisation have in Australia?
___________
2. Approximately, what percentage of your employees are unionised?
________ %
3. Approximately, what percentage of employees fall into the following classifications?
Managers, professionals and technicians
(e.g., senior/middle managers, ICT professionals, engineering technicians)
________%
Skilled trade workers (e.g., electricians, plumbers)
________%
Intermediate skills (e.g., clerical, sales and service workers)
________%
Elementary skills (e.g., labourers, machine operators)
________%
4. Approximately, what percentage of employees fall into the following classifications?
Full-time
_______%
Permanent Part-time _______%
Casual _______%
5. Approximately, what percentage of employees fall into the following classifications?
Female
_______%
Male _______%
6. Which description best describes your organisation’s stage of development (please tick one box)
start-up
□
growth
□
maturity
□
decline
□
don’t know
□
7. Which description best describes your primary industry type? (please tick one box)
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Manufacturing
Finance, insurance and real estate
□
□
□
Mining
Wholesale trade
Services
□
□
□
Transportation, communications, electric, gas and sanitary services
Other,
□
Construction
Retail trade
Public administration
□
□
□
□
specify: ____________________________________________________________________
8. Which following description best describes your organisation’s ownership structure? (please tick one box)
Australian national
□
Australian based multinational
□
Foreign based multinational
□
9. Is your organisation (please tick one box):
privately owned
□
publicly listed
□
other
□
(specify_____________________________________
10. What is your job title: __________________________________________________________________________
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Section 2: Skill Retention and Utilisation
1.
For each of the following skill categories please indicate in percentage terms, based on the past three years, the
approximate annual level of employee turnover. (please insert NA if skill categories are not employed)
Managers, professionals and technicians
(e.g., senior/middle managers, ICT professionals, engineering technicians)
________%
Skilled trade workers (e.g., electricians, plumbers)
________%
Intermediate skills (e.g., clerical, sales and service workers)
________%
Elementary skills (e.g., labourers, machine operators)
________%
Using the following response scale, place an appropriate number in the blank space to the right of each statement.
2. For each of the following skill categories, based on the past three years, please indicate the extent to which the skills
employees have are utilised in your organisation. (please insert NA if skill categories are not employed)
Not At
All Utilised
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fully
Utilised
7
Managers, professionals and technicians
(e.g., senior/middle managers, ICT professionals, engineering technicians)
_________
Skilled trade workers (e.g., electricians, plumbers)
_________
Intermediate skills (e.g., clerical, sales and service workers)
_________
Elementary skills (e.g., labourers, machine operators)
_________
Using the following response scale, place an appropriate number in the blank space to the right of each statement.
3. The following statements pertain to issues relating to employee skill retention and utilisation in your organisation.
Strongly
Disagree
1
2
3
4
5
6
Strongly
Agree
7
Our available skill set will permit us to achieve our long-term objectives
_________
We lose skilled employees more than the industry average.
_________
We know what skills our workers have.
_________
Retaining skills is not seen as a problem in our organisation.
_________
The available skill set in our organisation is sufficient to achieve our long-term objectives.
_________
Utilising our skills is not seen as a problem in our organisation.
_________
Organisational goal achievement is not hindered by the lack of skill use.
_________
We do better at retaining skilled employees than other organisations in this region.
_________
We utilize our skills adequately to achieve our long-term goals
_________
3
Strongly
Disagree
1
2
3
4
5
6
Strongly
Agree
7
Our organisation uses all our available skills.
_________
We have continuous access to all the skills we need.
_________
Our employees use their skills to their fullest extent
_________
Managers in our organisation have a full understanding of the skills possessed by workers.
_________
The range of skills we retain suits our long-term objectives
_________
We maintain information records on the skill set of employees.
_________
4. Rank the top three strategies your organisation directly uses to retain skilled employees?
( please place a number in the box using, 1 for most used, 2 for second most used, 3 for third most used)
higher pay
improved working conditions
better career progression opportunities
improved fringe benefits (e.g., cars, computers, etc)
engendering a ‘happier’ workplace culture
providing other non-monetary rewards
other
other
other
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
(specify:) _________________________________________
(specify:) _________________________________________
(specify:) _________________________________________
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Section 3: Management Practices and Philosophies
1.
Strongly
Disagree
1
The following statements pertain to current management practices/philosophies in your organisation. Using the
following response scale, place the most appropriate number in the blank space to the right of each statement.
2
3
4
5
6
Strongly
Agree
7
Managers basically agree that our organisation’s ability to learn is the key to our competitive advantage.
_________
Learning in my organisation is seen as a key commodity necessary to guarantee organisational survival.
_________
Employees in this organisation realise that the way they perceive the marketplace must be
continually questioned.
_________
Everyone in this organisation understands their role in quality.
_________
Information on productivity is readily available to employees.
_________
We rarely collectively question our biases about the way we interpret customer information.
_________
Continuous improvement is a key element in our approach to quality.
_________
There is a commonality of purpose in my organisation.
_________
Information on productivity is readily available to employees.
_________
There is total agreement on our organisational vision across all levels, functions, and divisions.
_________
Employees view themselves as partners in charting the direction of the organisation.
_________
Information on quality performance is readily available to employees.
_________
All major department heads within our organisation accept their responsibility for quality.
_________
Our suppliers are actively involved in our new product development process.
_________
Quality is our number one criterion in selecting suppliers.
_________
The sense around this organisation is that employee learning is an investment, not an expense.
_________
Our suppliers are certified, or qualified, for quality.
_________
We run this organisation as lean as possible in terms of staffing.
_________
Our employees routinely carry out a wide variety of tasks.
_________
All employees are committed to the goals of this organisation.
_________
The basic values of this organisation include learning as a key improvement.
_________
Senior managers display visible and effective leadership on quality in this organisation.
_________
We emphasise prevention rather than inspection in our approach to quality.
_________
We reflect critically on the shared assumptions we have made about our customers.
_________
Employees take responsibility for making improvements in their jobs.
_________
Every employee knows who his or her customer is and ensures that they get a quality product/service.
_________
5
Strongly
Disagree
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Agree
7
6
We rely on a small number of high quality suppliers.
_________
Managers provide personal leadership for quality products and quality improvement.
_________
We have a formal program in this organisation for the improvement of quality.
_________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2.
Approximately, what percentage of employees in your workplace is organised into formally designed teams?
_______ %
3.
Which, if any, of the following states apply to the way that team-working operates at your workplace
(please tick your response)
Team members depend on each other’s work to be able to do their job.
Yes
□
No
□
Tasks or roles rotate among the members of the team.
Yes
□
No
□
Team members are able to appoint their own team leaders.
Yes
□
No
□
Team members jointly decide how work is to be done.
Yes
□
No
□
Teams are given specific responsibility for specific products or services.
Yes
□
No
□
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Section 4: Human Resource Practices
1.
The following statements pertain to the role of human resource managers in your organisation. Using the
following response scale, place the most appropriate number in the blank space to the right of each statement.
Strongly
Disagree
1
2
3
4
5
6
Strongly
Agree
7
Individuals in this organisation have clear career paths.
_________
The compensation for all employees is directly linked to performance.
_________
Employees in our organisation have more than one potential postion for promotion.
_________
Our organisation prefers an internal employee whenever a vacancy exists.
_________
Job performance is an important factor in determining the incentive compensation of employees.
_________
In our organisation, salaries we pay are comparable to the market.
_________
Our organisation plans for the career development of employees.
_________
In our organisation, compensation is decided on the basis of the ability of the employee.
_________
2. Which of the following statements best describes your approach to filling vacancies at your workplace?
(please tick one box only)
Internal applicants are the only source, no external recruitment
Internal applicants are given preference, other things being equal, over external applicants
Applications from internal and external applicants are treated equally
External applicants are given preference, other things being equal, over internal applicants
External applicants are the only source, no internal recruitment.
□
□
□
□
□
3. Which of the following factors are important when recruiting new employees?
(please tick boxes for all important factors)
References
Skills
Experience
Other
□
□
□
□
Availability
Age
Motivation
□
□
□
Recommended
Qualifications
□
□
(please specify:_______________________________________________________ )
4. When filling vacancies at your workplace, do you conduct any type of personality or attitude test?
(please tick one box only)
Yes
□
No
□
7
5. How many days and/or hours are spent on induction activities for a new employee? (if no induction insert 0)
_______ days
_______ hours
6. Approximately, what percentage of experienced employees (who have been employed for at least 12 months) have
been given time off from their normal daily work duties to undertake training over the past 12 months?
________ %
7. Approximately, how many days of training did experienced employees undertake over the past 12 months?
_______ days
8. Does the training have any of the following objectives? (please tick boxes for all objectives covered)
provide the skills needed for employees to move to different jobs
obtain a quality standard
extend the range of skills used by employees in their current jobs
improve the skills already used by employees in their current jobs
increase employees’ understanding of, or commitment to, the organisation
other (specify: ________________________________________________)
□
□
□
□
□
□
9. Which of the following areas does training cover? (please tick boxes for all the areas covered)
computing skills
communication skills
operation of new equipment
health and safety
equal opportunities
quality control procedures
other
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
teamworking
leadership skills
customer/service liaison
problem-solving methods
reliability and working to deadlines
□
□
□
□
□
(specify: ________________________________________________)
10. Approximately, what percentage of employees are formally trained to be able to do jobs other than their own?
________ %
8
11. Approximately, what percentage of employees actually do jobs other than their own at least once a week?
________ %
Using the following response scale, place an appropriate number in the blank space to the right of each statement.
12.
To what extent would you say individual employees have:
Not At
All
1
2
Moderate
Extent
4
3
5
Great
Extent
7
6
variety in their work?
_________
discretion over how they work?
_________
control over the pace at which they work?
_________
involvement in decisions over how their work is organised?
_________
13. Has your organisation or a third party conducted a formal survey of your employees’ views or opinions during the
past two years?
(please tick one box only)
Yes
□
No
□
(if No go to question 15)
14. Were the results of the employee survey made available in written form to those employees who took part?
(please tick one box only)
Yes
□
No
□
15. In which of the following occupational skill groups are there employees that have their performance formally a
appraised? (please tick boxes for all groups which are appraised)
Managers, professionals and technicians
Intermediate skills
□
□
Skilled trade workers
Elementary skills
□
□
16. Approximately, what percentage of non-managerial employees at this workplace have their performance formally
appraised?
________ %
17. How frequently are appraisals conducted? (please tick a box for your response)
Quarterly
Every two years
Other
□
□
□
□
□
Half-yearly
No fixed Pattern
Annually
□
(specify __________________________________)
18. Does performance appraisal result in an evaluation of training needs?
Yes
□
No
(please tick one box only)
□
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19. Is individual employees’ pay linked to the outcome of the performance appraisal?
Yes
□
No
(please tick one box only)
□
20. Do you have any of the following working time arrangements at your workplace?
(please tick boxes for all existing arrangements)
□
□
□
□
□
Working at or from home in normal working hours
The ability to reduce working hours (e.g., switching from full-time to part-time)
Ability to increase working hours (e.g., switching from part-time to full-time)
Job sharing schemes (sharing a full-time job with another employee)
Flexitime (where an employee has no set start or finish time, but has an agreement to work
a set number of hours per week or month)
□
□
□
Ability to change shift patterns
Working compressed hours (e.g., a 9 day fortnight)
None of the above
21. Do all employees have the option of reducing their working hours, or is it restricted to some employees only?
(please tick one box)
All have the option
□
Some employees only
□
None at all
□
22. Do all employees have the option to work flexitime or is it restricted to some employees only?
(please tick one box)
All have the option
□
Some employees only
□
None at all
□
23. Are any employees in your organisation entitled to any of the following?
(please tick boxes for all available entitlements)
Working only during school term-time
Workplace nursery or nursery linked with workplace
Financial help with child-care
Financial help with the care of older adults
A specific period of leave for carers of older adults
None of the above
□
□
□
□
□
□
10
Section 5: Business Environment
1. Use the seven point scale below to indicate your perception of the BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT in which your
organisation operates with regard to your most important market..
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Strongly
Strongly
Disagree
Agree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
In our kind of business, customers’ product preferences change quite a bit over time.
_________
We are witnessing demand for our products and services from customers who never bought them before.
_________
The technology in our industry is changing rapidly.
_________
Our competitors are relatively weak.
_________
New customers tend to have product-related needs that are different from those of our existing customers.
_________
A large number of new product ideas have been made possible thorough technological
breakthroughs in our industry.
_________
Competition in our industry is cut-throat.
_________
Our customers tend to look for new products and services all the time.
_________
Anything that one competitor can offer, others can match readily.
_________
Price competition is the hallmark of our industry.
_________
We cater for many of the same customers that we use to in the past.
_________
Technological changes provide big opportunities in our industry.
_________
There are many ‘promotion wars’ in our industry.
_________
Technological developments in our industry are rather minor.
_________
One hears of a new competitor almost every day.
_________
Using the following response scale, place an appropriate number in the blank space to the right of each statement.
2. In a new product and service introduction, how often is your organisation:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Never
Always
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
First to market with new products or services.
_________
Later entrant in established but still growing markets.
_________
Entrant in mature, stable markets.
_________
Entrant in declining markets.
_________
At the cutting edge of technological innovation.
_________
11
Any further suggestions on what strategies organisations can pursue to improve skill retention and
skill utilisation?
Please provide an estimate of the time taken to complete this survey:
_________ minutes
If you would like a copy of the completed report please tick the box below and complete your email
contact details (or enclose your business card).
Please send me a copy of a summary of the completed report:
□
Contact Details (optional):
If you want to obtain a copy of the report please provide contact details, your responses will not be
tracked and anonymity is still assured even if you provide these details.
Name:
____________________________________________________
Email:
____________________________________________________
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION
12